Suicide attempts in Alcoholics
Ulrich W Preuss, M.D.
July, 2001
I INTRODUCTION
Silde 1: A. Completed suicide is high in alcohol dependent individuals
1. 25% of completed suicides are conducted by alcoholics (Murphy &
Wetzel, 1990)
Lifetime prevalence of completed suicide in alcoholics is 7%-15% of
alcoholics complete suicide (Inskip et al., 1998, Murphy et al., 1992,
1979)
Attempted suicide is a more frequent phenomenon than completed
suicide (Schmidtke, 1997, Ostamo et al. 1991) and attempted suicide is
one of the strongest predictor of completed suicides (Dhossche et al.,
2000, Isometsa & Lonnqvist, 1998).
Slide 2: B. There are several predictors/risk factors of suicide attempts in general
1. Psychiatric diagnoses: Mood disorders (Kessler et al., 1999, Brent et
al., 1988), Personality disorders (Beautrais, 1996), particularly
borderline antisocial personality disorder (Suominen et al. 2000) and
substance/alcohol use disorders (Dhossche et al., 2000, Dieserud et al.,
2000). These put individuals at a 4 to 5 times increased risk for suicide
attempts (Moscicki, 1994, Beautrais, 2000).
Additional demographic risk factors: Being
Female (Welch et al., 2000, Schmidtke et al., 1996),
Separated or divorced (Kessler et al., 1999, Dieserud et al.,
2000, Hawton et al., 1994),
Unemployed (Platt,1985),
Fewer years of education (Petronis et al., 1990, Sorenson
and Golding, 1988).
Slide 3 C. A number of studies reported about Predictors/risk factors of suicide
attempts in alcohol-dependent individuals
Risk factors for suicide attempts reported in alcoholic samples are the
same as in other samples
Additional risk factors refer to characteristics of alcohol dependence
including:
Family history of alcoholism, (Schuckit, 1986)
Early onset of drinking and alcohol dependence (Hesselbrock et
al., 1988, Roy, 1993)
Previous treatment for alcohol dependence (Black et al., 1986,
Schuckit, 1986).
Slide 4 D. Problems with previous research
1. Most studies use imprecise terminology.
2. Study samples are mainly small (Hewitt et al., 1998: n=39, Suominen et
al., 1997: n = 118)
3. Studies do not differentiate between independent and induced
psychiatric disorders
Slide 5 E. Aim of the study and hypotheses
1.
Identify and confirm risk factors for suicide attempts in a large,
family based sample of alcoholics using the COGA dataset.
2.
Test the robustness of these predictors in a multivariate design
(logistic regression)
3.
Look at suicide attempts in families of alcoholics with and without a
history of suicide attempts.
Slide 6: F. Hypotheses: Alcoholics with a history of suicide attempts:
1. Show different sociodemographic characteristics by being more
female
younger
unemployed
separated divorced
uneducated
2. They show a more severe course of alcoholism
3. Higher psychiatric comorbidity
4. More suicide attempts, psychiatric comorbidity and
substance use disorders in first-degree relatives
II. METHODS:
Slide 7: A The Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) sample:
1. 3,190 alcohol-dependent individuals were included in this analysis
2. Included probands, selected controls and family members
3. Semistructured interviews (SSAGA) were used to obtain information on
a. Suicidal behavior
b. Socioeconomic characteristics
c. Psychiatric comorbidity,
d. Substance use disorders
e. Characteristics of alcohol dependence
4. Univariate and multivariate statistics were used to test hypotheses
Slide 8 B. Sample: These alcohol dependent individuals were assigned into two
groups:
1. Group 1: alcohol-dependent individuals with a history suicide attempts
2. Group 2: alcohol-dependent individuals without a history suicide
attempts
III. RESULTS
Slide 9: A. First hypothesis: There are differences in sociodemographic
characteristics between Groups 1 and 2
Group 1 is younger and had less years of education
They have a significant higher proportion of females, are more often
unemployed and divorced or separated.
Additional factors: They were less likely to have a college degree and
were more often unemployed. No differences regarding ethnicity were
found.
Slide 10: B. Second hypothesis: Group 1 subjects show a more severe course of
alcohol dependence showing
An earlier onset of alcohol dependence
A higher number of DSM III R alcohol dependence criteria endorsed
More alcohol-related violence
A higher number of alcohol related physical problems.
Additional factor: they received more treatment because of their alcohol
dependence
Slide 11: C. Third hypothesis: Group 1 individuals have more substance use
disorders and higher psychiatric comorbidity by showing
A significantly higher number of substances dependent
on including marihuana, amphetamine and opiates.
A higher number of psychiatric disorders including
independent and induced depression, mania, panic
disorders, and social phobia.
Slide 12: D. Fourth hypothesis: First-degree relatives of Group 1 had a significantly
higher frequency of suicide attempts than relatives of Group 2. This is
due to higher rates of suicide attempts in fathers and siblings of
suicidal alcoholics.
E. No differences were found regarding frequency of alcohol dependence,
psychiatric and other drug dependence.
Slide 13: F. Regression analysis: A number of suicide attempt risk factors remained
significant in a multivariate approach.
In the equation:
Older age
Being unemployed
Induced and independent depression,
Number of DSMIIIR alcohol dependence criteria,
Number of alcohol-related physical problems,
Separated/ divorced,
Number of alcohol-related violence
Not in the equation:
Alcohol dependence age of onset
Being married
3. Slight differences in the profile of risk factors between males and
females.
IV Conclusion:
Slide 14 A. Alcohol-dependent individuals with a history of suicide attempts:
1. Are more severely impaired due to psychiatric comorbidity,
other substance use disorders and alcohol-dependence characteristics.
2. Have first degree relatives who show higher rate of suicide attempts
3. When in treatment: screen and treat psychiatric comorbidity to prevent
suicide attempts and subsequent completed suicide.